Your Storytelling Genie is in an AI Bottle – with Park Howell

Here they are again—marketers and communicators worried that AI is about to eliminate storytelling altogether. But what if the exact opposite is happening? What if AI is actually making authentic human storytelling the ultimate competitive advantage? In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle reconnects with Park Howell, the brain behind the Business of Story and creator of the Story Cycle Genie—an AI tool designed to amplify human storytelling rather than replace it. While everyone's rushing to automate their content creation, Park and Dan explore why the brands winning in this fractured landscape are the ones doubling down on distinctly human narratives. They dig into the paradox we're all navigating—how do you leverage AI's efficiency without losing the gritty authenticity that makes your story worth telling? This isn't your typical "AI versus humans" conversation. It's about how communications professionals can use AI as their storytelling co-pilot while ensuring their brand narratives remain so authentically human that no algorithm could replicate them. Because in a world drowning in AI-generated content, being genuinely, unapologetically human might just be your secret weapon. Listen in and hear about... AI's impact on storytelling and brand communication The importance of human oversight in AI-generated content Leveraging AI tools like the Story Cycle Genie to enhance, not replace, human creativity Balancing technology adoption with authentic brand voice Speed-to-market advantages of AI-powered brand strategies Notable Quotes On the Power of Storytelling: "A story is about a man getting in a hole and a man getting out of a hole. It need not be a man. And it need not be about a hole. People love that story." - Park Howell [04:24 → 04:46] On Business Storytelling: "In business, the stories we need to tell are in solution to our customers problems. What are they going through, what are they experiencing, what do they want and why is it important to them?" - Park Howell [05:09 → 05:22] On AI-Generated Stories: "It wasn't even my eyes at first. It was a feeling. I first had this feeling inside of me like, this doesn't feel right. Then I used my senses, my eyes, in my ears to scrutinize it." - Park Howell [12:28 → 12:39] On the Importance of Brand Story: "Speed to market. I mean everything is accelerating around us and those that are dragging behind are going to lose out." - Park Howell [01:01:53 → 01:02:01] On AI in Storytelling: "Instead of taking three months to define and refine your brand story. You can now do it in minutes, literally, instead of, and, and by the way, saving the tens of thousands of dollars it typically takes for you to do that down to a few hundred bucks." - Park Howell [01:02:01 → 01:02:21] On the Value of Human Expertise: "The AI is only as good as the wisdom that lies behind it and the IP that lies behind it." - Dan Nestle [01:09:18 → 01:09:25] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Dan Nestle | Twitter/X Park Howell The Story Cycle Genie | Website and AI Tool The Business of Story | Website Park Howell | LinkedIn Timestamps 0:00 Intro: AI for self-inspection and storytelling 5:33 Defining story: Man in a hole analogy 12:50 AI's impact on storytelling and human touch 20:55 Using AI to understand your brand story 28:56 The power of dialogue in authentic stories 38:39 Introducing the Story Cycle Genie tool 47:28 Analyzing Dan's brand story with the Genie 54:59 Iterating and improving brand messaging 1:01:53 Speed to market with AI-powered storytelling 1:07:52 Integrating Story Cycle Genie in enterprises 1:10:16 Closing thoughts and where to find Park (Notes co-created by Human Dan and  Flowsend.ai ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices